The USADA had invited Lance Armstrong to "testify" under oath about his doping history and reveal everything that he knew about the problem to the agency. But when it came time to actually deliver the goods, Armstrong decided not to participate in the interview. The original deal with the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency was struck with the understanding that the agency would consider reducing Armstrong's lifetime ban from sports in exchange for his testimony.
The agency revealed that it believed Armstrong was going to participate in the interview, despite his concerns that doing so would expose him to potential criminal or civil liabilities associated with his years of doping and lying to cover it up. Armstrong's attorney issued a statement saying that "he will not participate in USADA's efforts to selectively conduct American prosecutions that only demonize selected individuals while failing to address the 95 percent of the sport over which USADA has no jurisdiction.''
That approach is consistent with Armstrong's position since he was forced to reluctantly admit that he cheated and lied about it for years. Rather than owning his mistakes and the damage he caused to many innocent people, Armstrong seems intent on questioning why he is getting in trouble when "everyone else was doing it too." Essentially, the former hero and icon is now acting like a petulant child who has grown frustrated with being caught in a lie. And even though his decision to avoid speaking with the USADA may limit his legal liabilities for the moment, there is a growing storm of litigation that is just over the horizon, including the potential for reinstated criminal charges from the U.S. Department of Justice.
The agency revealed that it believed Armstrong was going to participate in the interview, despite his concerns that doing so would expose him to potential criminal or civil liabilities associated with his years of doping and lying to cover it up. Armstrong's attorney issued a statement saying that "he will not participate in USADA's efforts to selectively conduct American prosecutions that only demonize selected individuals while failing to address the 95 percent of the sport over which USADA has no jurisdiction.''
That approach is consistent with Armstrong's position since he was forced to reluctantly admit that he cheated and lied about it for years. Rather than owning his mistakes and the damage he caused to many innocent people, Armstrong seems intent on questioning why he is getting in trouble when "everyone else was doing it too." Essentially, the former hero and icon is now acting like a petulant child who has grown frustrated with being caught in a lie. And even though his decision to avoid speaking with the USADA may limit his legal liabilities for the moment, there is a growing storm of litigation that is just over the horizon, including the potential for reinstated criminal charges from the U.S. Department of Justice.
